Dish Network CEO Denies Interest In Selling Spectrum, Company

Dish Network Chief Executive Joe Clayton said he has no plans to sell the company or its assets, though he said he’s seen new interest in spectrum that Dish has amassed to build its own wireless network.

Dish has been at the center of speculation it could sell itself or its airwaves after AT&T walked away from its $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom.

“It’s not part of our strategy,” Clayton said Tuesday in an interview in Las Vegas as part of the Consumer Electronics Show. “If we were here to maximize value, cut costs, you wouldn’t see this type of investment.”

Dish on Monday announced new set-top boxes that will allow for more simultaneous recording, as well as a streamlined logo and new advertising campaign.

The Denver-based company has an application with the Federal Communications Commission to convert satellite spectrum it purchased into a terrestrial network operating consumer handsets and other devices. Clayton said he expected to hear by as soon as the end of March where Dish’s request will be granted.

He said the company could have a full nationwide network within three years after its application is approved.